SUBMISSIONS ARE NOW CLOSED

Building on the resounding success of its previous edition, Film Conclave is proud to announce its second official UK–India Co-Production Market, bringing together filmmakers and funders. The market is open to filmmakers from around the world who are producing content that celebrates India or its diaspora.

The film co-production market is part of a wider annual India Week®, organised by advisory firm EPG, taking place from 26 May – 30 May. India Week® is the most significant celebration of bilateral economic ties between the UK and India. To find out more about all the events visit indiaweek.uk.

Film Conclave is being organised in collaboration with ReelN, leaders in South Asian film curation.

We aim to provide a platform where the 'global Indian' origin film industry can find genuine partnerships and financing opportunities for projects in development. We invite film pitches from the UK, India and further afar, including from the Indian diaspora. It will be followed by an exclusive drinks reception with over 200 filmmakers, funders, actors and production houses, offering an evening of networking and collaboration opportunity with filmmakers from around the world.

***SUBMISSION CRITERIA***
1. Feature (narrative and documentary seeking investors / producing partners / distribution)

2. Work-In-Progress projects (unfinished feature films seeking finishing funds / gap financing)


***SUBMISSION GUIDELINES***

**All submissions should include their budget and distribution plans**

1a. FEATURE NARRATIVE (seeking investors / producing partners / distributors)
Screenplay (1st draft is fine) (70 MINS & ABOVE) - first 25 pages for narrative
one combined PDF including:
1. Logline

2. Short synopsis

3. Long synopsis or story

4. Director's bio

5. Producer's Bio

6. Director’s statement

7. Visual and treatment note, or look-book

8. Estimated budget top sheet

9. Project timelines
10. Partners attached (optional)

11. Talent attached (optional)
12.
Financial plan (optional)

1b. DOCUMENTARY FEATURE (70 MINS & ABOVE) (seeking investors / producing partners / distributors)
Must submit ONE combined PDF including:
1. Logline

2. Short synopsis

3. Long treatment

4. Director's bio/ producer's bio

5. Director’s statement

6. Estimated budget
7. Top sheet

8. Financial plan

9. Timeline
10. Story (optional)


2. WORK-IN-PROGRESS FILMS (unfinished feature films seeking finishing funds / gap financing)

Please submit:
1. Film press kit

2. Rough cut market screener

3. Teaser or scenes (about 4-5 scenes)

4. Project timelines and current status at the time of submission

5. Premiere status / film festival selections if any

6. Total budget with clear expenses and funding gap

3. FINISHED FILMS (seeking gap financing to complete post production)
Please submit:
1. Festival / market screener link

2. Trailer

3. Press kit

4. Territories and rights available

Awards & Prizes

We'll select submissions to come along on the day, informing you by the end of the first week of April 2026. You'll get dedicated support from our team to organise meetings with potential investors, producers, studios, broadcast networks, sales agents, distributors, public funds, digital platforms, government and legal experts to help you tap into UK-India Coproduction incentives, specialist accountants and others.

Selected submissions will be required to purchase Film Conclave attendee ticket(s) and agree a fundraising agreement for funds raised through meetings we arrange. These funds are re-invested into the following year's event and to help us create the surrounding ecosystem to support film makers.

We will provide you a network of market delegates comprising potential investors, producers, studios, broadcast networks, sales agents, distributors, public funds, and digital platforms and help you set-up one-on-one meetings.

Rules & Terms

1. The writer or director must identify as of Indian origin. At least one primary character must identify as of Indian origin and does not need to be an India citizen. Project should have Indian-origin talent in key roles as primary cast or HOD attached.

2. At least one representative must be available to represent the project and to take part in the introductory online meeting session leading up to the co-production market event day. This will provide an opportunity to discuss the co-production market timetables.

3. The selected projects will be presented by their respective producer / director (as a team or solo) as part of the Film Conclave film co-production in one-to-one pitches to funders. Attending the one-to-one meetings is mandatory.

4. Deadline for submissions is 2 March 2026. The official selections will be unveiled by 2 April 2026.

5. Only original projects or original adaptations of literary works with clear options can apply. Plagiarised work or lack of relevant paperwork in the case of adaptations or original projects will be immediately disqualified.

6. Once the project is selected, the submitters formally commit themselves to present the pitch at the Film Conclave and declare to be the sole and exclusive owner of all the rights related to the project, guaranteeing to have been granted full permissions by all the rights holders and therefore entitled to take part in the said events.

7. We will not be providing any individual feedback.

8. Submissions of scripts can be in Roman Hindi or Roman English.

***USE OF SUBMITTED MATERIALS***
1. All submitted materials will be stored complying with Data protection and GDPR guidelines. The materials will not be returned.

2. In case a project is selected, the submitted information may be published on the Film Conclave website, as well as on the Industry Guide and Book of Projects, and distributed among the Film Conclave's attendees and badge holders.

3. They will also be used to advertise the next edition of the Film Conclave and subsequent editions.

4. The submission of the form and materials indicates that the participant agrees to all terms and conditions of the Film Conclave and takes complete responsibility for the materials submitted and the information provided for the market and project guides.

***EVALUATION CRITERIA***
1. Indian origin or connection relevance

2. Originality and innovation of the concept

3. Storytelling quality

4. Narrative arch / key characters' journey

5. Potential for International production

6. Realistic Budget
7. Artistic / design value

8. Market potential / commercial Value

9. Production value
10. Track record of studio / production company

11. Pitch quality

12. Gender balance (storyline)

13. Diversity and inclusion potential (storyline)


***ACCEPTANCE OF RULES & PROCEDURES***
The submission of a project implies the unconditional acceptance of the Film Conclave rules and procedures as well as the acceptance of all decisions taken by the selection committee and/or the director, which are final.

***ACKNOWLEDGEMENT***
Finished projects stemming from the Film Conclave should mention the market and display India Week's logo in their credits.
Preferably, the following sentence should be mentioned in the credit list: "[film title] has been presented at the India Week's Film Conclave in London [year of selection] ." The India Week logo will be sent to the filmmakers.
2 Reviews
Overall Rating
Quality
Value
Communication
Hospitality
Networking
  • Jitin Hingorani

    As the ONLY producer selected for BOTH the inaugural and sophomore iterations of UK's only co-production market specifically for South Asian projects, I can say with confidence Film Conclave has gone from strength to strength! Everything from the caliber of the curated projects to the commitment of the industry mentors to the tangible development leads I walked away with for my project were top-notch. Looking forward to seeing how the Conclave grows and spreads its wings to other markets around the world, especially in India and the U.S., markets which attract the most number of contenders for this platform each year. Kudos to the entire team, led by Aman Dhillon, Pratik Dattani, and Laasya Gadi, for their warm hospitality and willingness to guide each and every project to the right set of avenues and investors. Can't wait to be back again next year!

    May 2026
    Helpful
  • Deepti Datt

    So good to be a part of this really great initiative by Amandeep Dhillon. Film in India, and in the diaspora worldwide, is at a critical mass stage for independent, 3rdCulture, storytelling to take off and break out, big time! The Film Conclave totally got this moment - a trend before it happens - with the guest speakers, the panels, the mentors - and critically, their selection from the submitted projects! There is a keen sensibility at work here, behind the scenes, steering the direction of this film co-prod market. I'm excited to see it continue to grow year on year. Glad to be in on the best kept secret in its early stages!

    June 2026
    Helpful